So Many Memories – Chapter Eight
Disclaimer – Don't own 'em.
A/N: I'm baaack! I'm really, really sorry about that. I honestly thought I would never get the inspiration to finish this, but after taking a month and a half "break" from the show, what do ya know, I decided to give it one more shot. This chapter is shorter than the last one, and it's only JnR (not that you guys are complaining, now are you? ;), but Monica and Chandler should be coming back in the next chapter. I know I started a RnP thing, but I highly doubt I will continue with that. Although I do have some important plans for Ross, which I'm sure is going to receive a lot of backlash. But I'm sorry, it's the only way I can keep going with this. You'll understand more when I get to that part ;)
***
Rachel awoke with a pounding head, causing her hand to instinctively reach up and grab it in order to smooth the pain away. One look around the room told her something more than she planned had happened the night before.
When her vision finally cleared, it struck that she was not in her own room. Instead of the familiar pink objects scattered over the dresser and nightstand, there was a soccer ball in the corner with many different posters of metal bands hanging from the walls on each side of the room.
Squinting through the pain that was robbing all thoughts from her head, she rolled over to search for a clock, but became startled when a figure lying on the bed beside her came into view.
It was definitely a guy, she could tell that much through her hung over state of mind. He looked hauntingly familiar. That tousled black hair, the smoothly defined muscles rippling across the blanket, that smooth chest that served as a pillow during scary movies…
'Oh my God! Joey!'
She squealed in shock, and in turn Joey jumped at her sudden alarm.
"Huh?"
Rolling over to face the noise that rudely brought him from his slumber, he too released a startled scream.
"Rachel!"
They both reached for their heads at the same moment, both aching from the screaming and sudden shock.
"What happened last night?"
Joey's face was distorted from the pain, but he spoke through it. "I don't know, I can't remember anything."
Rachel let her head flop back onto the pillow, fighting through the searing pain to find the answers she wanted.
Joey was about to stand up and search his drawers for the medicine that would relieve the aches, but looked under the blanket before he dared try anything else. Coming to the sudden realization that he was naked, Rachel received a look from him that was mixed with bewilderment and fear.
Rachel too flipped her head under the blanket and returned with much the same look she got from Joey. Thoughts began racing through their heads, asking how they could let this happen. And what would happen because of this.
The sound of movement on the floor below them brought their senses back. Rachel climbed out of Joey's bed, holding the soft blanket over herself, as Joey looked the other way.
Footsteps in the hallway cause Rachel to grab her high heels and make a mad dash for the nearby closet.
The steps stopped outside Joey's door and the voice of Gloria Tribbiani could be heard clearly from Rachel's cramped position between Joey's old guitar case and a large pile of boxes.
"Joey, breakfast is ready!"
Joey looked anxiously at the half-wedged open closet door and back to the origin of his mother's voice.
"Okay, Ma." He can sense that his mother caught his voice cracking.
"Is everything all right in there?"
"Uh, yeah, everything's fine. I'll be down in a minute," Joey said, more afraid now than ever that his all-knowing mother had caught him red handed.
"Are you sure everything is okay?" Gloria insisted.
"Yes, mom, I'll be down for breakfast in a couple minutes. I just need to get changed."
'It's not a total lie.'
Gloria paused before replying, "Tell Rachel she's welcome to stay. There's plenty to go around."
***
Rachel took a seat next to Joey in the Tribbiani dining room, Joey's mother placing a fresh steaming plate of scrambled eggs and buttered toast in front of her. Rachel mumbled her thanks, feeling slightly awkward sitting there in Joey's number twenty-two maroon jersey and gray sweat pants.
Dina walked in, allowing the swinging door to swoosh shut behind her when she noticed the familiar, out of place face toying with a piece of egg on the end of a fork. She sat across the table from Joey, trying her hardest to suppress the giggles that threatened to ruin her casual façade; instead releasing a bemused grin at the sight before her.
"Morning, Joey."
Joey, knowing his sister had something in store, played along in spite of that.
"Morning, Dina."
"So…" Dina continued, an air of mischief illuminating off her soft voice, "It looks like you had fun last night." Dina smirked at Rachel, who began fidgeting uncomfortably in her chair.
Joey laughed nervously. "What gave you that idea?"
Dina's face was as well protected as Fort Ligonier under the command of George Washington and John Forbes. Rachel, trying with all her might, could not uncover the adolescent's ultimate plan.
"Oh, I don't know," Dina said airily, bringing her full attention to the hot breakfast lying before her.
Joey and Rachel did the same, both feeling so uncomfortable at the moment that they didn't have much of an appetite. The dining room grew silent save for the tiny clinking of pots and pans emanating from the kitchen as Gloria continued fixing the most important meal of the day for her hungry family.
Rachel managed to take a few bites of her eggs that were cooling fast and washed it down with orange juice as Joey took a bite of his toast smothered in jam.
Dina watched them squirm in their seats, enjoying every moment of it. She waited a few more moments until they relaxed their tense muscles to make her move. The deafening silence was broken by Dina making screeching noises, tilting her head innocently to the side and moving a piece of egg back and forth on her plate.
Joey could feel Rachel tense in the seat beside him immediately as she dropped her fork and placed her forehead into her trembling hands. Joey's face flushed, trying to come up with a cover story for the event that took place the previous night.
"What the—I thought you said—."
"Joey, relax. I didn't tell anyone what I heard."
Rachel sighed in unison with Joey, relieved.
Joey's mom walked back into the room. "Dina didn't have to say anything. Everyone in the house got an earful to explain everything."
Rachel's face was scorching in embarrassment. "You mean--," she managed to stutter, her wide with shock.
"Very little was left to the imagination," Gloria said, pulling out a chair at the end of the table.
Dina's struggle failed and the giggles came out uncontrollably as she covered her face with her hands.
"Your father felt so bad for leaving earlier than normal for work. He was looking forward to having a talk with you."
"Ma, I already know about the birds and the bees!" Joey exclaimed, his face growing as maroon as the jersey he lent Rachel.
"That hasn't stopped him before," Mary Angela waltzed into the room. "Hey, Rachel," she said, sitting on the other side of Joey.
She rubbed her eyes groggily. "With all that racket last night I hardly got any shut eye."
Dina, who had only just gotten over her bout of laughter, could feel another round coming on.
"So are you two an item?" Mary Angela asked, her voice more serious than before.
"I'm not sure," Joey said, his migraine returning as he wracked his mind, willing the memories to return with the answers to the questions he is plagued with in this aftermath.
"The last thing I remember is the rain. But even that is still blurry."
He looked at Rachel expectantly.
"My memory is just as bad as yours. The last thing I remember is sitting on the sidewalk."
"The sidewalk? Shouldn't you have been inside breaking up the dance floor?" Gloria spoke up.
With that comment flashes of leaning on Joey's shoulder as they danced the last slow dance of the night flooded back to her vision, sparking the heated conversation they had in the rain to railroad her into nausea.
***
I'll just take a minute to thank all my reviewers for sticking by me. Again, so sorry about the delay!
Vicky – Thanks!
Rachandjoey4eva – I think you were the only one to mention them heading for the punch bowl ;) God observation! Thanks for the review!
Deranged Insanity – I think they did more than just kiss, hehe. I can't really promise anything, but there might be a first kiss within the next few chapters. Glad you liked it!
Romantic shade of blue – I guess I'm sort of going from a sweet chapter to the next morning's results ;) Thanks for the review!
Sara.tribbiani – I still can't believe it. Top 3? Cool! And I know how much you were expecting this chapter, so I'm really sorry. I just hope this chapter lives up to the rest! Thank you so much for the great compliment :)
FrsFan4Ever – Thank you! Bet you're wishing this update had happened like the other one, instead of having a four month break in between ;)
And as always, I love to hear what you have to say, so keep the reviews coming!